Ethan Potter
I was born and raised Catholic. I went to Catholic school for 10 years, went to Mass every Sunday, and maybe went to confession with my family once every two years [big deal, right?].
For years my “prayer life” was nothing but mundane. I went to Mass because that’s simply what we did, and I had no idea why.
Ironically, it wasn’t until I left Catholic school for public school that I began to take my faith seriously. Public school was a culture shock. It wasn’t just the overwhelming amount of atheists, but the combative Protestants that opened my eyes.
I remember walking into algebra class to be told “well at least I can talk to God and don’t have to go through a priest” from a kid who I didn’t even know, or being told I had a Jewish Bible.. that was a fun one! I got added into a group chat with all the schools Pentecostals and they starting swinging hahah. It was moments such as these when I found that the things I supposedly believed, I had no idea how to defend.
That’s where my life changed. I’m a bit prideful, and I don’t like to be wrong. Before bed I’d think to myself, do I actually worship the Blessed Virgin? Do I actually go to a man for confession and is this actually wrong?! For me, I went and found the answers. Although my family wasn’t the perfect Catholic family, my siblings, mother, and I all found pride in being Catholic. It was part of our identity even if we didn’t practice it perfectly. That is partly in thanks to my Protestant father.
As I read, I became fascinated with the early Church fathers, and debating became my guilty pleasure. Now, not only did I know how to defend the Church’s positions— but I knew how to back it up with Scripture. I started to attend TLM and even started my own blog called @thecatholicwarrior
I was still empty, though. Consider, we are made for community. Here I was, the only Catholic in my school with all the information but no one to share and discuss it with peacefully.
That’s when a friend and I started@onefaith.yg
This ministry has made me realize the important fellowship required to convert others to the faith, and has also revealed to me that iron sharpens iron.
My journey has been long and it is by NO MEANS over. I’m still growing and learning. If there is one thing I would tell my fellow Catholics, it’s to never be afraid to share your Catholic faith. We are a world that is starving for truth and goodness, as Catholics it is our duty to share that. You don’t have to know what you’re doing. The only thing you need to know is that (a.) the Church has been at this whole Jesus thing for 2000 years, she has an answer and (b.) God will reveal to you what is necessary.
PAX